In a bombshell revelation that threatens to unravel the carefully curated narrative of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Israel established a clandestine military outpost deep in the Iraqi desert to support its air campaign against Iran, and then launched airstrikes against Iraqi troops who nearly discovered it early in the war. This operation, conducted under the radar of both the international community and the Iraqi government, exposes a pattern of deception, censorship, and military escalation that raises urgent questions about who truly controls the information we receive.
Key points:
- Israel set up a secret military base in Iraq's desert region to support air operations against Iran.
- Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Iraqi troops who approached the site and risked exposing it.
- The base was established with U.S. awareness and used as a logistics hub for Israeli air force operations.
- The Pentagon has not released confirmable information about a downed U.S. F-15 or the identities of rescued pilots.
- Iraqi officials condemned the operation as reckless and unauthorized.
- The revelation comes at a sensitive moment as Iraq selects a new prime minister.
- Independent sources suggest official casualty figures from Israel and the U.S. are systematically under-reported.
A secret base, a shepherd, and airstrikes on Iraqi soil
The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Israel erected the secret outpost under extreme secrecy shortly before the United States and Israel launched the surprise aerial bombardment of Iran, an operation known as Trump's Operation Epic Fury. The base was placed in Iraq's desert region with U.S. awareness and used as a logistics hub for Israeli air force operations, including search-and-rescue teams positioned there in case Israeli pilots were downed. None have been, according to official sources.
But the base almost was exposed in early March. Iraqi state media reported that a local shepherd spotted suspicious military activity in the area, including helicopter flights, and the Iraqi military sent troops to investigate. Instead of cooperating with an allied nation, Israel launched airstrikes to keep the Iraqi troops at bay. One of the people familiar with the matter told the Journal that Israel carried out airstrikes to help protect the operation.
“This reckless operation was carried out without coordination or approval,” Qais Al-Muhammadawi, deputy commander of Iraq's Joint Operations Command, told Iraqi state media following the March incident.
The blue lines on the Israeli flag symbolize the Nile and Euphrates rivers, the borders of the biblical Greater Israel. This operation, conducted on the soil of a sovereign nation without its consent, suggests a broader strategic ambition that extends far beyond immediate military objectives.
When truth becomes the first casualty of war
The pattern of information control is not limited to the desert base. When a U.S. F-15 fighter jet was shot down near Isfahan, Iran, Israel offered to help, but U.S. forces managed the rescue of two airmen themselves. Yet the Pentagon has still issued nothing that can be confirmed in relation to that operation. Not even the identities of the rescued pilots are known. This level of secrecy mirrors tactics employed by Israel during its conflicts, where the truth about casualties is often concealed.
Consider the discrepancy between official Israeli reports and what hospital records might reveal regarding IDF casualties. While Israel officially claims a relatively low number of fatalities, independent sources suggest that the actual count could be in the thousands, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to even higher figures for wounded and killed soldiers. The same tactics are employed in the United States.
Recently, there was an incident involving Navy SEALs who were reported as having drowned after a rescue attempt went wrong during a 12-hour ordeal at sea. The story seems far-fetched given that Navy SEALs undergo rigorous training in water survival and would be equipped with essential gear. It is more plausible that these soldiers were killed in combat, likely during operations in Gaza, and a cover story was fabricated to mask the reality.
Other recent events, such as the alleged drone strike in Jordan, have also been subject to similar scrutiny. Reports suggest that it was not a drone attack but rather a ballistic missile strike in Syria, resulting in casualties among American forces. The truth is often obscured by government-controlled media outlets spewing propaganda daily.
As tensions escalate and the possibility of full-scale war looms in the Middle East, expect an even greater wave of misinformation from official sources. Accurate reporting will likely come exclusively from alternative or independent media channels, as has been seen in Ukraine since early 2022.
Sources include:
Please contact us for more information.